Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-12-03

QIH00ka
To the Editor of THE EVENING STAR:
In adopting the "Old Roman" pronunciation Of
Latin the High School has followed the example
set by the majority OF the colleges In the United
States and by the best scholars in Germany, srrel
general and very thorough discussion Turing
some twenty years or more. (See the statistics
published by the Bureau Of Education.) The
OF aeaa a9d foreign languages cannot b
pronunciation. An American who thinks nile the
French word for daughter, should be pronounced
the noble rhythm OF virgil loses a part Of its
beauty under the long and Of the English
In requiring written exercises in Latin the High
School follows the best examples Writing is the
shortest way TO an accurate knowledge OF the
grammar Of language not our native one. Much
reading Is also Important 1t would be well for the
High school to require from beginners one to Ave
pages day OF reading in simple narrative The
9Id Hstors Score is good book to begin with
pupil and relieves the dreartness OF writing exer.
cisea Don't mix In much grammar with the
soon as they understand their meaning. TS ne
progress made In this method BY the brighter
pupils win be rapid
Yes That question is settled II any question
can De- Latin has the least irregular formation OF
all languages, and is, therefore, the best one BY
words to the English than any other; 1t aDOunds
IN scientific terms, gives names to plants, shines
embalms the lore Of theology, varies the page q
every law book, and contends with English for the
honor Of conveying the ideas and knowledge OF the
medical profession Idefy any man not Latinist to
read understandfngly page OF any standard work
on anatomy or physiology without Latin, or, what
amounts to the same thing, medical dictionary
within reach. SO, let the Latin be taught
/ concede that II we had thoroughly trained
teachers OF etym0lygy, taking the English Ian
guage as Its basis, the Latin might be dispensed
with for all persons except scientists theOlOgans
lawyers and doctors; but there are not more than
half q dozen such teachers in this country We
must teach Latin as the best available thing for
the education OF the young in inguist1cs.
1t Is not, however, Quack medlctue-gOOd for
everything. II young person wishes to acquire
languages. Shakespeare had q better style than
Bacon; and Dickens, Thackeray, Ruskin George
Eliot, and Mrs Stowe didn't know Latin enough
among them all to conJusate the verb sum. The
Latin professors who can write a good article for
Hd,Per or the Century may all be counted on the
fngera
Anything taught in the High School should be
taught HhOrOuQhiV. Admirable work Is done there
In mathematics, history; English literature, and
German. In the language department too much
Is attempted; The course Is but three years. The
languages that ngure In 1t are English, Latin,
German, Greek, and French. These are enough
Tor course OF SIX years at least. Hence smatter.
Ing In them all except the German. The last two
should be dropped, and the energies and means of
the school concentrated on the FIRST three In these
the High school can compete with any other insti.
tuition, private or public, In the city. In Greek 1t
cuts q sorry ngure compared with the Columbian
or GeorgetoUn, and In French with the private
schools OF modern languages. Let the board OF
trustees lop on these excrescenses. Our favorite
institution may be excellent as a High school; 1t
will lose Its usefulness and influence by trying TO
swell itself to the size OF q university.
THIRD PARENT.